Mission San Francisco De La Espada Essay

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The mission was established initially in 1690 as Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in East Texas. The mission was abandoned and moved to the West Bank of the San Antonio River and was called Mission San Francisco de la Espada in 1731. Its purpose was to serve the Coahuiltecan tribes and educate them in religion. The original building was made of sticks and straw, but these building materials made it an easy victim of Indian attacks. The missionaries wanted to make life in the mission communities be comparable to that of villages in Spain. The missionaries taught Indians specific jobs such as carpentry, masonry, and stone cutting to make buildings. The Espada was one of the first missions to make brick, which can still found today. The Native Americans In 1826, an attack by the Comanches wiped out the livestock, damaged crops, and wounded several people. As a result, Mexican troops came to protect the area and also built a round stone protective wall to protect the mission. The Espada suffered disease, fires, and Indian raids. In 1831, it was decided by the Governors of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico that mission properties, except the churches, should be sold at auction. A French priest by the name of Reverend Francis Bouchu started using the mission again in 1858. He made the mission his home and was responsible for the rebuilding of the church. In comparison, presidios are military posts that patrol the area in case of an intruders. Presidios are similar to the missions because they both protect the mission from enemies. The missions are still in operation today and still provides church services. They are able to do so since they are run by the National Park Services. The missions serve as a reminder of past architecture which is still used in South Texas building structures, blending of cultures, and display religious

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